3-Star Hoops Recruit Gavin Schilling Commits to Michigan State

By Travis Zuellig

Courtesy of Gavin-Schilling.com

The Michigan State Spartans landed their first recruit of the 2013 class Wednesday. Three-star recruit Gavin Schilling signed to play in East Lansing. The 6-foot-9, 230-pound center averaged 13.5 points and nine rebounds game in his senior season at Findlay College Prep.

Schilling isn’t a recruit that will make a huge splash in the Big 10 next season, but Tom Izzo will mold him into a force in paint. Also, with Derrick Nix graduating at the end of the season, Schilling will be a nice replacement.

Schilling also plays for probably the top high school team in the nation. Findlay Prep finished their season 34-0 and the top-seeded Pilots will play in the National High School Invitational on April 4 against eighth-seeded Montrose Christian. Before Schillings commitment to Michigan State, Findlay Prep has had six other players committing to play at Div. I schools.

Originally from Chicago, Schilling played alongside Jabari Parker, ESPN No. 2 recruit in the nation. Schilling and Parker played together in AAU. Unfortunately for Michigan State, the Spartans didn’t land Parker but Schilling is still a good signing. Minnesota, UCLA and Villanova were all fighting for Schilling’s signature.

Some of Schilling’s strength is his build. He has good size, long arms, and the kid is still only 17. He has good rebounding ability and has soft hands for tip-ins, and his weaknesses from outside of the paint and at the foul line. Also, he is still so young and so raw. Izzo should be able to form him into a player that fans will want to see develop into a big-time player.